hallenbeck scowls and chews three aspirin. swallows. the phone rings. he groans. chain-lights another smoke, stubs out his old one. chins the receiver and says:
he starts to cry out -- and a dark figure looms behind him. clubs him in the head.
acting on a sudden hunch, he slams on the brakes. stops the car. gets out, crosses to the rental. peeks in. a two-million-dollar suitcase sits, pretty as punch, on the back seat.